Robots replace hotel check-in staff and a tourist freaks out
Share and Follow

Is it artificial inn-telligence?

Machines are seemingly replacing humans in various industries, such as manufacturing and restaurants. Recently, an Argentinian tourist was surprised to find that the receptionists at her hotel in Japan had been substituted with talking robots. This incident was captured in a dystopian TikTok video that has garnered over 845,000 views.

The rewritten text contains one paragraph.

“The receptionists are robots,” wailed the traveler — who goes by @manuenalemania — in the clip, before panning to the cybernetic clerks, who stand stiffly behind the counter in white outfits and pillbox hats like something out of “Blade Runner.”

“Don’t look at me, don’t look at me, don’t look at me,” frets the TikTokker as one of the robo-receptionists greets her.

At one point, it even wishes her a “delightful stay.”

She was reportedly staying at a Henn na Hotel — “Henn na” translates to “strange” in Japanese — in Tokyo, a chain that enlists a variety of humanoid hospitality bots to cater to guests, The Travel reported. The first Henn na opened in Nagasaki with the goal of revolutionizing the hospitality industry by providing visitors with more expedient service.

There are now more than 20 branches of the futuristic inns, whose lobbies are staffed by either humanoid or — wait for it — dinosaur droids. Other high-tech amenities include interactive holograms and RoBoHoN, a mobile robot assistant.

While the intent was to enhance the check-in experience, Manu found the experience extremely unsettling.

“You scare me a lot,” she says to one of the automatons while checking in. She scans her passport at the automated kiosk and inputs the dates of her stay, after which the machine deposits a key card.

That’s when the robot addresses her.

“Your check-in is now complete,” the droid rigidly declares. “We hope you have a delightful stay at our hotel.”

It then bows, prompting the freaked-out Manu to exclaim, “Ay noooooooo!”

Commenters were similarly creeped out by the check-in droids, whose role appears to be purely cosmetic.

“You study hospitality for this,” said one, commenting on the phenomenon of robots replacing human staff.

“At least they didn’t treat you badly,” said another, while others compared the bots to something out of the sci-fi thriller series “Black Mirror.”

Coincidentally, Henna has notably “furloughed” over half of its 240 robotic staffers due to operational challenges, including malfunctions and a failure to meet guest expectations, which ironically created more work for their flesh-and-blood counterparts, the Travel reported.

Many customers claimed that the robot receptionists would often misinterpret commands, highlighting the limitations of this so-called high-tech hospitality.

As such, Henna has hired more human employees to pick up the slack.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Iran’s supreme leader acknowledges thousands killed as Trump calls for new leadership: reports

Iran’s Supreme Leader Admits to Mass Casualties Amid Trump’s Urge for Regime Change: Breaking News

For the first time, Iran’s supreme leader has admitted that the recent…
Broadview ICE protest today draws large crowd after Renee Good shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Massive Turnout at Broadview ICE Protest Following Renee Good Shooting in Minneapolis

In Broadview, Illinois, large groups of demonstrators gathered once again at the…
Chicago-area priest Father Curtis Lambert accused of sexual abuse of a minor at Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park: Archdiocese

Indian Priest Denis Manuel Carneiro Faces Sex Abuse Allegations Across Chicago-Area Parishes: Archdiocese Reports

A retired priest, once associated with various parishes in Chicago and its…
World-leading relationship expert pinpoints the exact amount of weekly sex couples need to stay connected - and how often they MUST introduce something new to the bedroom

Renowned Expert Reveals Ideal Frequency for Couples to Enhance Relationship Satisfaction

The elusive query on many minds is: How frequently should partners engage…
Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar slammed for staying seated during Trump speech honoring victims’ families

Michigan Representative Shri Thanedar Criticized for Remaining Seated During Trump’s Speech Honoring Victims’ Families

During President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar…
Stories Matter Foundation's Write Where You Are fellowship offers writers the tools to share their diverse stories

Empowering Diverse Voices: Stories Matter Foundation Launches ‘Write Where You Are’ Fellowship for Aspiring Writers

The Chicago-based nonprofit, Stories Matter Foundation, is thrilled to unveil its first-ever…
St. John's surpass tough test in huge win over Villanova to claim No. 2 in Big East

St. John’s Triumphs Over Villanova: A Pivotal Win that Elevates Them to Big East’s No. 2 Spot

PHILADELPHIA — The journey to victory was a more gradual climb this…
'Creative visionary': Roger Allers, 'The Lion King' co-director, dies at 76

Farewell to a Legend: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of ‘The Lion King’ Co-Director Roger Allers

Roger Allers, a towering figure in the world of animation and a…